Man faces new charges in triple murder

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (WSVN) -- A man once charged in a deadly crime has been arrested again.

Two women and a baby were murdered, and detectives are still convinced Lineten Belizaire, 21, is connected to the case despite dodging first degree murder charges. The suspect now sits at the Broward County Jail on new charges of second degree murder.

Four-and-a-half months ago, Belizaire was released from jail, but now, once again, Belizaire stands accused of killing his ex-girlfriend, 21-year-old Octavia Barnett, her best friend, 25-year-old Natasha Plummer, and Plummer's 6-month-old son, Carlton Stringer Jr. Only leaving his presumed 11-month-old son unharmed.

It was one of the worst triple homicides the Broward County Sheriff's Office had ever seen. "Detectives have not forgotten this even for a day," said Dani Moschella, BSO spokesperson. "Two young women shot to death. An innocent baby boy shot to death. Another baby boy left unharmed but in the arms of his dead mother, who was shot in a closet, presumably hiding."

This time the charges of second degree murder suggest the accused acted out in a crime of passion. Blood leaking out the front door of a Lauderdale Lakes apartment led police to the crime scene on Jan. 17. On March 2, Belizaire walked out of court a free man, after first degree, or premeditated murder charges, had to be dropped. "They jumped the gun and arrested the wrong person," said a relative of Belizaire, who drove him away from the courtroom on the day of his release.

Belizaire was released because a grand jury refused to indict him for first degree murder charges. But deputies do not need a grand jury if they now charge him with murder in the second degree. "Without discussing the details of the evidence that we have in this case, I can say that the detectives have continued to work hard on this investigation," Moschella said. "They continue to work with the State Attorney's Office."

Alexander Michaels, Belizaire's defense attorney, said, "I'm really upset about that. I think it's a last effort by law enforcement to safe a bad case that they didn't have in the first place."

Shanika Williams, the Godmother of both children in this case, spoke for many grieving family members when she said, "We just want justice, the whole family. We just want justice and closure to this case."

Belizaire's defense attorney is now seeking an emergency hearing, saying, for the second time around, his client is being held illegally. Belizaire remains behind bars without bond.

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